Drivers are being urged to ensure their tyres are in good condition now rather than wait until bad winter weather turns the road under their wheels into a skid pan.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said that as tyres only had the area of the sole of a shoe in touch with the road at any one time, it was a "no-brainer" to keep them in top condition.

The motoring charity warned that extra care was needed at this time of the year when sudden heavy showers could profoundly affect tyre performance.
Roads might also be worn out due to cut-backs on resurfacing, IAM added.